Cambodia

In 2016/17, Coram International undertook an in-depth study for UNICEF Cambodia, which aims to build a solid knowledge-base on the different forms of community-based alternative care practices, including Pagoda-based care. This research study, which is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs, informs on-going child care sector reform in Cambodia. There has been a need to better understand the practices of family- and community-based care alternatives, especially in light of the Cambodian Government’s commitment to re-integrate children currently living in residential care into community-based care arrangements. The study assesses the different forms of alternative care in the community, particularly kinship care, foster care, group homes and pagoda-based care, and analyses to what degree these forms of care are in compliance with the national and international Minimum Standards of Alternative Care for Children. It also looks into the costs and funding sources of the different forms of community-based alternative care in Cambodia.

In 2015, Coram International was contracted by UNICEF Cambodia to develop a framework and introductory narrative for the National Action Plan to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Children. The consultancy supported the Government in developing a five-year, costed, inter-ministerial action plan to address violence against children, and involves: identifying gaps and synergies in existing Government plans and strategies, in particular the National Action Plan on Violence against Women; carrying out an extensive desk review to identify lessons learnt and good practices on interventions to prevent and respond to violence against children from other countries, focusing on inter-sectoral and life cycle approaches; prepare inputs for technical working groups responsible for drafting sections of the Action Plan; and preparing a framework and final drafts for the narrative sections of the action plan.

In 2013, Professor Carolyn Hamilton and Coram International conducted a mapping and analysis of national legislation related to violence against children in each of the ten ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). This mapping and analysis compared national legislation to international laws, standards and best practices, including the recommendations and findings from UNICEF’s Violence Against Children Study. The project included a detailed comparison across the ten ASEAN Member States, highlighting common issues, concerns, or successes and making recommendations for legislative reform.